Integrated duty gear support trousers

ABSTRACT

A duty gear support trousers having a waist portion with a plurality of ergonomically shaped pads positioned within a hem around an interior surface of the waist portion and a plurality of vertically opening loops spaced around an exterior surface for removable placement of duty gear belt keepers. A duty gear belt having a plurality of accessories is positioned through the keepers so that the load of the duty gear accessories is spread over a wide area of the wearers waist.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to uniform trousers with an integrated duty gear support system wherein the waistline of the trousers features a reinforced padded lining and a belt attachment system.

Law enforcement personnel require an extensive array of accessories to perform their assigned duties. For example, police officers carry a wide range of accessories such as a night stick, a flashlight, a chemical agent dispenser, handcuffs, communications radio, firearms, and extra ammunition magazines for their firearm. The total weight of these accessories can often reach up to 25 lbs. Typically, these accessories are attached to a belt worn around their waist and commonly referred to as a duty gear belt. Typical duty gear belts are formed of a semi-rigid material, such a leather having a constant width of about 2-2½ inches. Each of the various accessories contained within a holster or other container and are attached to the duty gear belt through the use of loops or other fasteners which connect them to the duty gear belt.

Previously the duty gear belt and all of its attachments were supported around the waist of the wearer by being attached to a traditional narrow belt positioned through belt loops of the uniform trousers of the police officer. Although this method of attaching the duty gear belt around the waist of the wearer was effective in connecting the accessories, it was not designed for ergonomic comfort or to provide desirable weight distribution of the accessories around the waist of the user. The entire weight was being supported by the narrow belt extending through the belt loops on the trousers. Due to the heavy weight of the accessories and the non-ergonomic design of attachment this system became a health hazard in the form of fatigue, pinched nerves, sore back and bruises. Back injuries and nerve damage lead to prolonged absences or permanent disability from their duties.

Consequently, there is a need for a uniform trouser having an integrated duty gear support mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an ergonomically improved duty gear support system for police uniform trousers. The waistline of the trousers feature a reinforced padded lining and a belt attachment system. The internal padded load transfer system built into the waistline of the uniform trousers helps support the load of the accessories carried on the duty gear belt. The reinforced padded lining in the waistline of the trousers supports the load of the duty gear belt and accessories over a larger surface area of the wearer reducing stress on the body. Being fully integrated into the uniform trousers also makes donning and doffing of the duty gear belt easier and holds the belt securely. The integrated duty gear support system incorporates individual ergonomically-shaped pads sewn into the inside of the waistline of the trousers and a plurality of horizontal belt loops positioned around the waistline on the exterior surface of the trousers. A plurality of individual duty gear belt keepers are positioned around the waist through the horizontal loops at desired locations through which the conventional duty gear belt is threaded. The integrated duty gear support trousers of the present invention provides improved comfort and safety by securing and supporting the heavy load of the duty gear around a larger surface area of the waist of the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the integrated duty gear belt support trousers of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional detail view of the pad of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 incorporating the duty gear belt and accessories.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the integrated duty gear support trousers 10 of the present invention. The trousers 10 include a waist portion 12 having a wide hem 14 sewn along an inside surface 16 of the trousers. The hem 14 extends around the entire circumference of the waist portion 12. Positioned within the hem 14, between the inside surface 16 and the outside surface 18 of the waist portion 12, are a plurality of molded ergonomically shaped pads 20 spaced around the entire circumference of the hem. The pads 20 as shown in FIG. 1A preferably comprise a wider foam portion 22 and a narrower more rigid plastic backing portion 24, typically a high-density polyethylene. The individual pads 20 can be molded to correspond to varying anatomical sizes of individual wearers depending upon the overall size of the waist or gender. It is to be understood that although a plurality of individual pads are illustrated in FIG. 1, the invention also contemplates a single molded pad which extends around the entire circumference of the waist.

Located on the exterior surface 18 of the trousers is a plurality of vertical loops 26 formed by a single strip of fabric sewn to the exterior surface by rows of vertical stitching 28. Each row of stitching 28 provides an opening along the top and the bottom of the vertical loop 26 through which a belt keeper 30 can be positioned. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a single belt keeper 30, it is to be understood that a plurality of belt keepers spaced around the circumference of the waist are utilized as shown in FIG. 2. Belt keepers 30 are open and closable by a snap or other fastener.

As shown in FIG. 2, the traditional duty gear belt 32 is secured to the trousers by threading through the belt keepers 30. Attached to the duty gear belt for example is a holster 34 for a firearm 36, handcuff case 38, pepper spray case 40, and baton holster 42 for night stick 44. Ammunition cases 46 and 48 are also positioned on the duty gear belt.

The hem 14 of the trousers 10 typically would be made of fabric having a moisture wicking property to move perspiration away from the skin of the wearer. The materials including the pads would be washable and durable for repeated use. The waist portion of the trousers including the pads are ergonomically designed to be contoured to be worn around the hips of the wearer to distribute the load over a wider area of the hips. Alternatively, the hem and waist portion of the trousers can be made of a stretchable fabric to further conform to the anatomy of the wearer. The integrated duty gear support trousers effectively transfers the load of the duty gear components across a wider area of the hips of the wearer and provide additional support for the lumbar or lower back region of the wearer. The integrated duty gear support trousers of the present invention improves load distribution, increases comfort and reduces stress on the lower back of the wearer.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. For example, although the invention is illustrated with respect to uniform trousers, the invention is equally applicable to other types of uniform apparel such as shorts or skirts. 

1. A duty gear support garment comprising: a waist portion having at least one ergonomically shaped pad positioned around an interior surface of the waist portion; and a plurality of vertically opening loops spaced around an exterior surface of the waist portion for removable placement of a plurality of duty gear belt keepers.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of pads spaced around the waist portion inside a hem of the waist portion.
 3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the pads have a foam front surface and a semi-rigid plastic backing surface.
 4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the vertically opening loops are formed by a strip of material having a plurality of spaced rows of vertical stitching.
 5. The garment of claim 1 further comprising a duty gear belt positioned around an exterior surface of the waist portion and threaded through the duty gear belt keepers.
 6. The garment of claim 5 wherein the duty gear belt contains a plurality of accessories spaced along the belt.
 7. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is trousers.
 8. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is shorts.
 9. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is a skirt.
 10. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one pad is positioned within a hem in the waist portion.
 11. A duty gear support system comprising: a garment, said garment comprising: a waist portion having at least one ergonomically shaped pad positioned around an interior surface of the waist portion; a plurality of vertical loops spaced around an exterior surface of the waist portion; and a plurality of duty gear belt keepers spaced around the waist portion and each keeper is positioned within a vertical loop; and a duty gear belt having a plurality of accessories, wherein a load of the duty gear belt and accessories is spread over a wide area of the waist portion.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein there are a plurality of pads spaced around the waist portion.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the pads have a foam front surface and a semi-rigid backing surface.
 14. The system of claim 11 wherein the vertical loops are formed by a strip of material having a plurality of spaced rows or vertical stitching defining a top opening and a bottom opening.
 15. The system of claim 11 wherein the duty gear belt is positioned around the waist portion of the garment and is threaded through the duty gear belt keepers.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the accessories on the duty gear belt are spaced along the duty gear belt.
 17. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment is trousers.
 18. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment is shorts.
 19. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment is a skirt.
 20. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one pad is positioned within a hem in the waist portion of the garment. 